New Britain Symphony Orchestra Announces 2015-2016 Concert Season

An extensive and ambitious 2015-2016 concert season has been announced by the New Britain Symphony Orchestra, according to Sylvia O’Reilly, President. The season will officially open on Sunday, November 8th, in CCSU’s Welte Hall at 3:00 p.m., with a spectacular concert featuring works “About Space”. This concert is being presented in collaboration with CCSU’s Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium.

NBSO conductor and musical director Ertan Seyyar Sener is presenting an ambitious space program. Included will be a major multi-media performance of an odyssey through time and space, based on the children’s book Icarus At The Edge Of Time by author and physicist Brian Greene. This futuristic re-imagining of the classic myth takes audiences of all ages on a whirlwind voyage through space and time to the very edge of understanding. The program features an original score by composer Philip Glass, script adapted by Greene and David Henry Hwang and directed by Al + Al. Narration will be by John McDonough, well known published author and narrator of children’s books.

Along with a “Star Wars” medley and Gustav Holst’s Mars and Jupiter from “The Planets Suite” the program will include a world premiere of “From the Rocks to the Stars by composer and NBSO percussionist Christopher Swist and the Symphony premiere of “Arboretum” for solo theremin and antiphonal strings by Elizabeth Brown, with Brown as soloist, will round out the program.

A drawing for a special CCSU Planetarium adventure to be presented by Planetarium Director Craig Robinson will take place at the conclusion of the concert. The winner may host up to 30 guests to explore the planets on a mutually agreed upon date. Symphony attendees may register for the drawing in the lobby preceding the concert. The winner must be present for the drawing. Refreshments for the event will be provided by Sodexo, the campus food service.

A second main stage concert will be performed in Welte Hall on May 1, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. “Singing Strings” will feature Daniel Salazar, guitarist. Included in the program will be compositions by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Juan Crisostomo Arriaga, Isaac Albeniz, and Ernesto Lecuona.

“Our new slogan encompasses the words TRADITION, COMMUNITY, and MUSIC, each of which plays an important role in the Symphony’s outreach program throughout central Connecticut that centers on education,” said O’Reilly. To that end, the Symphony offers a free Mini Concert Series which showcases NBSO musicians. Seven ensembles will be presented in small venues such as libraries, churches, and museums in New Britain, Berlin, and Plainville. The musicians perform and engage the audiences in dialogue about music and the instruments of the orchestra, providing unique musical experiences for all ages. In addition, free tickets are offered through local non-profit organizations to area citizens who could not otherwise afford to attend the main stage concerts.

In addition, the NBSO presents a free full symphonic concert for all fifth grade students from New Britain, Plainville, Newington, Berlin, and home schooled students. The concert will feature American composers this year, including a Connecticut child prodigy composer. This season’s 19th Young People’s Concert, to be performed on April 6, 2016, will bring the total of young people reached through this unique educational performance to over 28,000. Other outreach programs include the annual Helen Kilduff – Elizabeth Elia juried scholarship award to an area high school senior who has been accepted by an institution of higher learning for the study of music. Also offered are premier bus trips to music venues in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

Tickets for the full symphony main stage concerts are $20 for adults and free for students. Information on all of the Symphony programs, and the purchase of tickets, may be obtained by visiting the website at www.NewBritainSymphony.org, emailing the office at office@newbritainsymphony.org, or by calling the Symphony office to speak with Todd Cheney, Executive Director, at 860-826-6344, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Tradition | Community | Music

The mission of the New Britain Symphony Orchestra is to perpetuate the rich tradition of live symphonic music by presenting concerts of a high caliber performed by a professional orchestra, and to provide related education and enrichment activities, thereby contributing to the quality of life for people of all ages and ethnicity in Central Connecticut.